UK and Wales population climbs by near record 706,900 people as immigration skyrockets

The population of England and Wales continued to grow in the year to mid-2024, reaching an estimated 61.8 million, up 1.2% from mid-2023, data published by the Office for National Statistics shows.

Population change is mainly determined by international and internal migration, births and deaths. Although estimated net international migration (690,100) was lower in the year to mid-2024 compared with the previous year, it continued to contribute most to population growth.

The group’s data shows a near record 706,900 increase in the total size of the population, with an estimated 1,142,300 people immigrating to England and Wales from outside the UK over the time period.

The rise of 706,900 people year-on-year, or 1.2%, was the second-largest in records going back to 1949, the Office for National Statistics said.

There was a decrease in the number of births and deaths in the year to mid-2024, compared with mid-2023:

• 596,000 births, down 2,400
• 566,000 deaths, down 32,000
• Natural change, the difference between births and deaths, contributed an increase of 30,000.

Population change is mainly determined by international and internal migration, births and deaths.

Although estimated net international migration (690,100) was lower in the year to mid-2024 compared with the previous year, it continued to contribute most to population growth. pic.twitter.com/Zd1Gj3LynK

— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) July 30, 2025

The data will come as a blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, which is facing sustained pressure to bring down both legal and illegal immigration.

This week, the Home Office announced that it will impose the first wave of sanctions on gangs involved in people smuggling and driving irregular migrants to the UK.

These sanctions will also apply to those financing and enabling these gangs, with anyone complicit in facilitating people smuggling to the UK facing unprecedented repercussions.

This sanctions regime is the world’s first dedicated to targeting people smuggling and organised immigration crime, aimed at ending the exploitation of vulnerable people by criminal networks, reducing irregular migration and the deaths associated with small boat crossings, and cracking down on closely related issues regarding modern slavery.

Measures that can be undertaken under this regime include freezing property, bank accounts, and other assets that allow organised criminal gangs to facilitate irregular migration to the UK.

The government said these sanctions are designed to reach individuals located anywhere in the world and publicly name them, making it illegal for the UK financial system to engage with them and for them to travel to the country.

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